New Set Of Clothes: After years of planning, the A-4E got new paint just before our Airshow in 2001 and it was worth the wait! A generous donation of time and materials from Hawley´s Paint gave our Skyhawk this beautiful makeover.
Though it looks like a fighter plane, the A-4 is a subsonic light attack aircraft. The Navy used them extensively in Vietnam. The Museum's example is loaded with correct but inert ordnance.
The Douglas A-4 was designed by the famed Ed Heinemann. He created a simple, lightweight, and remarkably good-flying aircraft, which pilots loved. The Skyhawk was affectionately nicknamed "Scooter", "Bantam Bomber", and "Heinemann's Hot-Rod".
This is the Museum's A-4 Skyhawk in flight back in 1966 when it was flying with VA-164 from the USS Oriskany (CV-34).
This is the Museum's A-4E Skyhawk in 1985 at Andrews Air Force Base. Note the hump on its back, which was not there in the prior photo from 1966. This was a later addition, installed on many A-4s during upgrade cycles to house additional avionics.
Country of origin
USA
Manufacturer
Douglas
b/n or serial number
151194
type
Carrier borne light attack bomber
ownership
This aircraft is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.
A FAMILY-FRIENDLY PLACE WITH HISTORY YOU CAN TOUCH!
There’s always something great going on at the Pacific Coast Air Museum. We have Open Cockpit weekends once a month, special events throughout the year, and regular hot dog lunches. We host school field trips, special group tours, birthday parties, and family get-togethers, all among our collection of historic aircraft and educational exhibits.
